The Value of Landmine Awareness Programs in Conflict Settings: Evidence from Myanmar

Landmines pose a significant threat not only to physical safety but also to the socioeconomic well-being of communities in conflict-affected regions. Living near landmines may restrict agricultural activity, impede mobility, and diminish access to essential services such as schools and markets. This evaluation uses a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the value of improving information about nearby landmine contamination in landmine-affected villages in Myanmar through the Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) program. Landmine awareness programs are intuitively appealing interventions with a clear first-stage effect: they help people recognize and avoid landmines, reducing injury and death. While logical and widely accepted, this impact has not been rigorously documented, leaving uncertainty about its magnitude and reliability across contexts. Beyond safety, the livelihood impacts of these programs are less well understood. Better information about mine risks may allow communities to access agricultural land, forests, or other resources critical for income and food security. Awareness might also alleviate the psychological stress of living in mine-affected areas, indirectly improving productivity and decision-making. However, awareness alone may not translate into livelihood gains if structural barriers such as limited economic opportunities or inadequate demining services persist.